Chapter 1: In The Woods

Weak, scared and lost. Gracing the ground with her harmless feet. The careful steps of an inexperienced wanderer fleeing from her captors. The sun burned hot on her skin as she tiptoed on her escape careful not to make a noise that would give up her position to her enemy. Her long silver like hair dressed her bare back which was exposed from the ripped dress she wore.

Her heart raced in fear and jumped at each slightest noise. She was terrified to death of her fate if she was ever caught by the cave witches. She moved in no specific direction but hopefully to find a way out or at least get rescued.

The leafs rustled as she walked through the strands of shrubs, she gently pulled them away, paving passage for her to walk through. She wasn't used to this, her feet hurt badly and the were reddened from the long walk and rough surfaces to which she had to step upon in the cause of her flight.

Her breath broke into sharp cuts, she panicked, confused on what to do. Hope seemed far off and her weakened body screamed at her to give up. She stayed still grabbing the diamond necklace around her neck. Her fingers trembled as she struggled to maintain her hold on it .She took in a deep breath, whispered some prayers to herself and was about putting a foot out when the whining of horses from a distance stopped her from doing so. Her panic heightened and she began to move tracing her steps backwards further into the woods. She glanced randomly in search for near danger as she moved and in fleeing seconds she found herself rolling down the short hill.

Landing on her face, she raised her head and spat out the little soil that had made its way past her lips. She stood up weakly and began to run as fast as her wobbly legs could carry her. She tripped and fell again on her belly. Her body was a burden to her mobility and there was nothing she could do being stuck with it. She winced In pain, hurting from the fall and managed to raise her head supporting her upper body with her elbows to the ground.

She stared dead at a greyish looking robe that approached her, she looked up to catch a full view of a lady, covered upper body with a veil over her head. Her eyes shot out in terror of the being before her.

"No...no."

She crawled her way backwards while the lady figure moved with patience as she followed her. She screamed as the toughened grip of another female held her head up. She is dragged up and made to stand facing the lady on a veil. With some ladies on red robes solidly behind her.

"Just how did you get this far?" The lady asked with the revealed half of her face bearing scorn.

The galloping sounds of horses steal their attention but it's soon returned to the original focus.

"Let her go." The lady commanded.

The women look at her confused.

"What happens to her then?" Another lady closely behind her asked.

"It is too late, they are here." She moved close to the lady in captive, her eyes dark with cravings and her veins popping in thirst. She sighs as she returns back to a normal state.

Sprouting with relieve the captives eyes bloomed with hope hearing the lady speak.

"Now about you," she slipped her roughly looking hands with peeled off knuckle skin from her veil, she waved it very slowly at her face intoxicating her with chants which she muttered. Her eyes grew dreamy and finally sent her falling. "Sleep well Your Highness." She said and turned while the rest follow suit. Fading off as dark ash.

The foot match of the horses counts down to a final stop. The soldiers listen for some seconds but no sound comes except for the ones of the forest birds The leader of the soldiers slides off his horse, he is a Stern looking youthful man with an enchanting face, his dumbed pink lips settles well with his spotless pale looking skin. His beautifully pointed nose enhances his facial lift and his dark long lashes makes his golden brown eyes stand out. His hair richly dark, and fallen behind his back. He takes some steps forward and bends to look at the foot mark made on the ground. He raises a brow and his face settles with a frown.

"Someone was here not long. The marks are still fresh, hopefully it is the Lady." He sighs deeply as he stands up. "We are spreading out for a search." He said to the men while his heart raced in hope.

Raising his hand he halted the steps of the men behind him. He had just made a discovery. A fallen hair pin that looked like that of the Royal Ladies of the castle. It undoubtedly belonged to the princess whom they had been sent out to look for. She was near.

This time their search intensified knowing that they lady was not far. They began calling her hoping she'd hear them and run towards them. Several search parties had been dispatched by the king from the day of her disappearance. They searched day and night on the king's order with no result but now this search group were closer to finding her than the others who had set out on the mission with them. Their energy came twice alive as they searched. They had been away from the castle and their loved ones in search for the princess, the King was loosing his cool and the Queen cried all day for fear that something terrible had befallen her daughter.

The attention of the soldiers were drawn by another soldier alerting them that the princess had been found. They all hastened their steps faster as they approached the scene. Seeing the lady, the feeble lady on the ground, her robe stained with dirt and few bruises sustained on her skin.

The men give way as their commander stepped forward, he sighed deeply, relieved at the sight of her and at the same time angry at whoever left her in such a state.

He got close to her and gently carried her off the floor. He places her on his horse, in front of him as they ride back to the castle accompanied by other soldiers.

The cave witches appear again as dark ash clouds the place. They seem tensed up as their eyes go in the direction the soldiers had followed, the lady on grey robe steps forward, she appears furious than tensed, black veins appear on her roughly looking face with her eyes darkened in need.

The clanging sound of the castle bell, alerted every soul in the castle as there were more movements than normal. The soldiers were welcomed with hailing as they came in with the princess.

The king accompanied with some guards walk down the castle corridors, making their way down the entrance of the palace. Information had spread like a virus to the king's ear that the princess had been rescued. Without further preparation he set out, even without informing the Queen of the good news to go see for himself, that truly his daughter was alive and present in the castle.

A knock interrupts the pacing steps of the Queen in her chamber.

"Come in." She ordered, her handmaiden enters bearing a heavy smile on her face. "What is going on Nara?"

"Your highness," she called with her excitement choking her words. "Princess Elnora has been found."

"What?" She asked, without waiting for a reply she dashed out of the room in a haste down the corridor. She stopped and looked through one of the look outs along the corridor. There, she saw some soldiers and the princess on a horse with a soldier behind her. Her eyes popped out lightened, she hastened her steps as she walked. Her heart pounding, needing a touching confirmation that it was indeed her daughter. Her personal guards along with her maid followed right behind her keeping up with her pace.

"Get the physician at once." The king commanded as they carried the lady into the castle. The Queen met them on her way, she tilted her head sharply in attempt to see her daughter. She saw the stained blue dress which the princess had on, the day she was kidnapped. The king sighted her and for the first time he was relieved and excited to see her since the disappearance. The Queen had been restless, starving herself and adding to the King's worry ever since the event had happened.

Now their daughter was found, alive and unconscious. No one knew the cause of it. The physician had come as soon as he got the message, the princess was placed on her bed, she was asleep like she was never going to wake up. The physician had been with her as well as the King and his Queen.

Gilbert the Royal physician was an elderly man who had served the royal family for years, rendering his services loyally. He was vast in knowledge and had unbeatable skills in the line of medicine. He was the best in the entire Kingdom and to the best of his knowledge there was no medical solution to the princess present situation